Ekushey Padak-winning poet and novelist Asim Saha passed away at about 4:00pm on Tuesday (June 18) while undergoing treatment at the ICU of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital. He was 75.
The renowned poet had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease, constipation, and diabetes.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Award-winning Poet Asim Saha.

In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said that Asim Saha’s death is an irreparable loss to Bangla language and literature.

The Premier prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

Born on February 20, 1949, in his maternal uncle’s house in Netrokona district of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Asim Saha grew up in a scholarly environment.

His father, Akhil Buddha Saha, was a professor. His family’s roots are in Shivalaya upazila of Manikganj district, where Saha spent much of his formative years.

Saha completed his secondary education in 1965 and his higher secondary education from Madaripur Government Nazimuddin College in 1967.

He pursued higher studies at Dhaka University, where he earned his post-graduate degree in 1973. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his illustrious career in literature.

Asim Saha’s contributions to Bengali literature are immense. His poetry, known for its depth and sensitivity, earned him numerous accolades throughout his career.

In 2011, he was honored with the Bangla Academy Literary Award, a prestigious recognition of his significant contributions to poetry.

In 2019, the government of Bangladesh recognised his contributions to the Bengali language and literature by awarding him the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award. This accolade is a testament to his lasting impact on Bangladeshi literature and culture.